Letter: Continue indigent care in cost-efficient way

Lonny AwerdickSt. Augustine

Published Monday, August 06, 2007

Editor: The Democratic Party of St. Johns County is relieved to see that the county is working to continue primary health care for the indigent. It was reported and verified by the county that under the previous arrangements the cost per visit borne by the county at Flagler Primary Care was more generous than reimbursement rates provided by Medicare or private insurance carriers. The costs were even higher at the Hastings Clinic. Discontinuing the current contract was fiduciarily proper, but we do not want to see the indigent left without primary care.

The county has and continues to pay for indigent care. It covers all medical and surgical specialties, hospitalization, medications, etc. Indigents are defined in two categories. Those in category A are only 200 percent above the federal poverty level. In category B, they are 225 percent above. In these cases, they are not qualified for either Medicare or Medicaid.

What is not covered is primary care (routine doctor office visits, labs and X-rays). Some years ago, it was delivered at the county health department. We hope that the county and the health department and even Flagler can work to provide these services including at the Hastings clinic, in an affordable manner.

We as Democrats believe all people deserve health care as a basic human right, but we are aware that the costs are enormous and that the uninsured are increasing in number. We can debate the larger issue of how to pay for the uninsured, but we must take immediate steps to provide essential indigent care. Care must be cost accountable. Compassion and wisdom must go hand in hand.

We expect our County Commission to act to continue to provide this care this is effective and cost efficient.